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Afghan, Pakistani leaders vow to defeat terrorism

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, May 13, IRNA -- Afghan's President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here Wednesday used an economic moot to resolve to defeat terrorism, saying terrorists' attacks have displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

"Pakistan and Afghanistan are the victims of atrocities of terrorists," Karzai told the inaugural session of third Regional Economic Cooperation (REC) conference on Afghanistan.

The Afghan President said though the issues like poverty and illegal drugs were an obstacle to development however, the most detrimental menace to the region was terrorism and extremism.

Referring to the frequent suicide bombings in both countries, attacks against innocent people and security forces, torching of supply trucks from Karachi to Kabul and said these factors had serious impact on trade and progress.

He expressed the resolve to work collectively for development and prosperity in the region, and provide the future generations an environment of security and stability.

"For the future of our children, we must open our hearts, focus together and fight our common enemies," he said.
Karzai said his government was engaged in strengthening multi and bilateral ties with neighbours, including Pakistan, and emphasized need for shunning narrow-minded policies by all regional countries.

He said the proposed gas pipeline from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan that would pass through Afghanistan would be an important step towards energy management. He mentioned the consortium to build a railway line from Central Asia to South Asia, passing through Afghanistan which would also provide a shortest trade route.

Karzai said that Afghanistan had taken steps to ensure dependable banking systems and stabilize exchange rates and was developing a pool of skilled labour force.

Prime Minister Gilani said on the occasion that the struggle against terrorism was a struggle for a profound vision for a better tomorrow.

"It is a struggle for hearts and minds, one in which dialogue and development must be the most potent tools," he said.

PM Gilani said that after long years of conflict and suffering the people of Afghanistan and the region deserve security and stability.

"They deserve stronger institutions, effective governance, respite from narco trade, meaningful reconstruction and sustainable economic development and they deserve a healing process, he added. Gilani said the regional dimension of Afghanistan's development strategy warrants closer attention.